Overview
- Australia is already short about 141,000 construction workers, with the gap projected to swell to roughly 300,000 by mid‑2027.
- On current practices, the sector would need to lift its workforce from just over 200,000 to around 500,000 to deliver the pipeline on time.
- Regional areas face the sharpest strain, with shortages forecast to jump from about 38,200 to 181,000 by 2027 as transmission and renewable projects roll out.
- Transport accounts for $129 billion of the five‑year public pipeline, utilities are set to double to $36 billion, building projects rise to $77 billion, and renewable energy across public and private investment totals an estimated $163 billion.
- Infrastructure Australia urges productivity gains, modern methods of construction and procurement reform, noting existing measures such as TAFE subsidies, migration fast‑tracking and licensing changes need better coordination.